If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Ubuntu 13.04 Desktop Gaming Performance Comparison

Phoronix: Ubuntu 13.04 Desktop Gaming Performance Comparison

In this article are some early benchmark results comparing the OpenGL gaming performance of the Unity, Xfce, Openbox, LXDE, KDE, GNOME Shell, and Enlightenment desktops when running on a recent development snapshot of Ubuntu 13.04. As many earlier benchmarks have shown, the OpenGL frame-rate for Linux games can sway quite greatly depending upon the desktop in use and more specifically the desktop's compositing window manager.

The bad news: Linux desktops are still unoptimized for gaming. Inconsistent at best, complete random at worst.

The fun news: KDE is freaking slow. Im already looking forward to the neckbeards suggesting hundreds of configs to change instead of just admitting the facts.

That's funny, I thought it was one config change called unredirect full screen windows, which is the recommended setting for game, and used to be the default before they switched back to not unredirecting by default.

Michael, clarify here in the forums: was KDE set to unredirect fullscreen windows or not? If so, great, then obviousl theres a regression. But If not then this entire article can be tossed out because the basic premise is "Window manager doesnt matter."

Like I really dont bash your articles much but you not setting that option from time to time is mine--and others-- biggest peeve with you because theres a certain line between "Keeping the defaults" and "common sense for benchmarking."

Where the tests run in Windowed Mode, or Fullscreen? Compositing DEs like Unity/Shell/KDE have Undirect-Fullscreen rendering modes either on by default, or easily enabled. Obviously, if you compare a windowed game running in a composited WM vs a non-composited one like OpenBox (or Xfwm default), then you're going to get better frame rates (though apparently Wayland addresses this nicely).

I only skimmed the text, but didn't see anywhere where is listed these details. It would be nice to know for these types of benchmarks.

Inquiring minds want to know

Originally Posted by Ericg

Michael, clarify here in the forums: was KDE set to unredirect fullscreen windows or not? If so, great, then obviousl theres a regression. But If not then this entire article can be tossed out because the basic premise is "Window manager doesnt matter."

Like I really dont bash your articles much but you not setting that option from time to time is mine--and others-- biggest peeve with you because theres a certain line between "Keeping the defaults" and "common sense for benchmarking."

Agreed, this really needs to be made clear. I used kde 4.10 for gaming and find it quite snappy - but of course I have window rules that say e.g. "inhibit compositing when playing openarena" etc.

so: the less complex the WM the more FPS. What about xdm? If Xfce gives me 10fps more than KDE and xdm gives me 10fps more than Xfce this could be totally worth it for a gaming machine. Please include xdm next time.